Luminaire

ABSTRACT

Luminaire for fluorescent lamps in which the ballast is housed in a compartment of the luminaire at one end of the lamps, and the compartment is provided with a downwardly opening, detachably hinged, door upon which the ballast is mounted. When the door is in closed position, the ballast casing is in heat-conductive contact with a metallic part which is exteriorly exposed at the top of the compartment for dissipating heat from the ballast.

United States Patent Inventor Edwin F. Gutl|,,lr.

St. Louis. Mo. Appl. No. 745,219 Filed July 16, I968 Patented July 20,1971 Assignee The Edwin F. Guth Company St. Louis, Mo.

LUMINAIRE 2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

us. Cl. .Q 240/s1.u R, 240/47 Int. Cl 1105b 33/02 FieldulSeareh240/5l.ll R,47,9,9A,11.4,25

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,352 12/1964 Wakefield et al/1965 Muller et a1.

3,469,089 9/1969 Picha 240/5 1.1 1 2,619,584 1 1/1952 Hathaway 240/51.11 3,012,132 12/1961 Rosenfield 240/51.l1 X 3,113,694 12/1963 Sulzer240/5l.11 X 3,240,928 3/1966 Young 240/5 1 .1 1 3,293,426 12/1966 Zeitzet al. 240/25 3,398,291 8/1968 Zerfoss 240/25 X Primary ExaminerSamuelS. Matthews Assistant ExaminerRobert P. Greiner Attorney-Paul M. WenkABSTRACT: Luminaire for fluorescent lamps in which the ballast is housedin a compartment of the luminaire at one end of the lamps, and thecompartment is provided with a downwardly opening, detachably hinged,door upon which the ballast is mounted. When the door is in closedposition, the ballast casing is in heat-conductive contact with ametallic part which is exteriorly exposed at the top of the compartmentfor dissipating heat from the ballast.

PATENTED JUL20 Ian SHEET 1 OF 4 PATENTED JUL2O I971 l sum 2'UF 4 U mwPATENTEU JUL20 m1 SHEET 3 OF 4 PATENTED JUL20 I971 saw u or 4 LUMINAIREThis invention relates generally to illumination, and particularly to aluminairefor use with fluorescent lamp tubes, or other energizablesources of illumination which require a ballast, or comparableaccessory, which generates heat during operation, or is likely torequire inspection or replacement during the useful life of other partsof the luminaire.

Luminaires for fluorescent lampsare usually provided with a ballastlocated on the top of the luminaire where it is out of sight, and inposition to dissipate the heat generated by it to the circumambient air.Such an arrangement of the ballast requires that the overall luminairehave a vertical dimension or depth considerably in excess of that whichis required for accommodating the fluorescent lamp tubes and the usualreflector elements.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aluminaire of substantially reduced depth, but which accommodates theballast in a manner which is compatible with aesthetic criteria.

Another object of the .invention is to improve the accessibility of theballast for a luminaire without dismounting the luminaire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a luminaire chassis withremovable'parts which may be eliminated or substituted in order toimprove the versatility'of the device, and adapt it to variousconditions of use.

These and otherobjects of the invention, which will become apparentasthe description proceeds, are accomplished by providing a luminairechassis having permanently connected end members and side members, and apermanently connected partition extending substantially parallel withone of the end members, but spaced therefrom adistance sufficient toaccommodate aballast, or the like, in a compartment circumscribed by oneend. member, the partition, and parts of two sidewalls. The spacebetween the partition and the opposite end member provides a stallaccommodating one or more fluorescent lamp tubes disposed lengthwise ofthe chassis, and mounted in the usual paired lamp receptacles which aresituated near the top of the chassis. The sidewalls of the chassisextend longitudinally parallel to the lamp tubes, and

may serve as reflectors, or serve to mount auxiliary reflectors in thespace between the aforesaid partition and the end member most remotefrom it, so that the lamp tubes are located within the chassis, butshielded in the sidewise direction by thesidemembers, and arranged toemit light through an aperture, usually downwardly addressed, which iscircumscribed by 'thelower edges of: the partition; the end member mostremote therefrom; and that portion of the side members between thepartition and said end member.

Preferably, the ballast is mounted upon a closure for the ballastcompartment; and the closure is normally located in substantially thesame plane as the plane of the aperture aforesaid. The closure ispreferably releasably hinged to one of the chassis members whichsurround the compartment, for example, the partition; and the ballast ispreferably mounted upon such closure in a manner such that when theclosure isin its closed position, the ballast is completely concealedwithin the compartment, but when access to the ballast, or to theconductors associated with it, is required, the closure may be hinged tomove the ballast from the confines of the compartment withoutnecessarily disconnecting it from the luminaire. It is also contemplatedthat the compartment which confines the ballast, under normalconditions, be ventilated, and equipped with a part of relatively highheat conductivity which makes substantial surface contact with thecasing of the ballast within the compartment, and is exposed on theexterior of the compartment, preferably at the top, for dissipating theheat of the ballast.

One embodiment of the invention is companying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the luminaire as viewed from the floorof a room to whose illumination it contributes;

illustrated in the ac- FIG. 2 is a view corresponding, in part, to FIG.I, and showing the ballast compartment end of the luminaire with itsclosure open;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ballast mounted on the compartmentclosure in separated condition, together with the ballast conductorsterminating in a plug-in connector-half;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along plane 4-4 of FIG. I,

with parts broken away to expose the contents of a ballast compartment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is asectional view taken along plane 6-6 of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a sectionalview taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4; FIG. 8 is a sectional view takenalong line 8-8 of FIG. 4 and showing a counterweight in elevation;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along plane 9-9 of FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is awiring diagram for the lamp receptacles; and FIG. I! is a wiring diagramfor the ballast.

. The luminaire shown in the drawings consists essentially of a chassis,which includes permanently connected end members l and 2 permanentlyconnected together by sidewalls 3 and 4, with an intermediate partition5 substantially identical in perimetrical configuration with the endmembers, but spaced from end member 1 a distance sufficient to definetherebetween a compartment of volume sufficient to accommodate a ballast6. The space circumscribed by the sidewalls 3 and 4, and by end wall 2and partition 5, constitutes a stall for the reception of a plurality offluorescent lamp tubes 7 and 8, as well as a trough 9 extending parallelwith, but between, said lamp tubes, so that its exterior surfaces of thetrough constitute reflectors for the respective lamp tubes, while itsinterior constitutes a conduit for accommodating conductors serving theusual lamp receptacles mounted on end member 2, as well as serviceconductors which may extend from one such luminaire to another inend-abutting relationship with it. The usual lamp receptacles aremounted in pairs, with one member of each pair mounted on end member 2,and the other member of each pair mounted on partition 5, all with thelamp-receiving portions thereof addressed inwardly of the lamp stall.The trough 9 is preferably removably mounted upon a center sill I0,which is preferably fluted lengthwise in order to stiffen it, andmounted at its opposite ends to end member 2 and partition 5,respectively. The sill 10 thus serves as the backbone of the luminaire,and provides the stiffness required to prevent distortion of theluminaire when installed in suspended relationship to a ceiling, withoutrequiring that the side members 3 and 4 be disfigured by flutes or foldswhich would stiffen them to an extent sufficient to prevent suchdistortion. When it is desirable to provide ventilation about the lamps,or where it is desirable to provide some uplight from the luminaire, thelongitudinal edges of the sill 10 are appropriately spaced from theadjacent upper inward edges of the respective side members 3 and 4.

The interior surfaces of sidewalls 3 and 4 may, if desired, serve asreflectors for the respective lamp tubes, but as clearly shown in FIG.6, the invention contemplates the optional provision of separateauxiliary reflectors II and 12. To facilitate the removable mounting ofreflectors 11 and 12, the outer margins of side members 3 and 4 may beformed with channels 13 and 14, and the outer margins of the reflectors11 and 12 formed with mating channels I5 and 16. To retain thereflectors l1 and 12 in proper position relative to the side members 3and 4, the respective reflectors may be equipped with detents l7 and 18,or other fastening devices, located adjacent the inner or upper marginthereof, for engagement, respectively, with flanges 19 and 20, asclearly shown in FIG. 6; Thus, the reflectors 11 and I2 may be used ornot used, or readily replaced with ones whose active reflecting surfacesare differently contoured, or differently finished, at the option of theuser, without the use of tools or separate fastening devices. Similarly,as shown in FIG. 6, the channels 21 and 22 of sill 10 open downwardly,and are adapted to removably receive the diverging margins of trough 9,and suitable spring clips 44 of any convenient form may be provided toreleasably engage the gated apertures 24 and 25 (seen in FIG. 4), whichare shaped to loosely receive tongues 26 and 27 formed integrally withclosure plate 23.

' As clearly shown in P10. 5, the partition 5 has, at its lower margin,a flange 28 projecting therefrom toward end member 1, and for the doublepurpose of biasing the tongues 26 and 27 into fully seated relationshipwithin openings 24 and 25, and

for preventing the closure 23 from becoming unhinged from partition 5without deliberate-attempt to do so, the closure is provided with anarcuate spring finger 29 which engages the edge of flange 28 As seen inH0. 5, the arcuity of finger 29 is such that the closure 23 may be'movedto a position substan tially parallel with partition 5, without tongues26 and 27 becoming disengaged from openings 24 and 25, yet when it isdesired to completely remove the closure member, the spring finger 29may be deliberately flexed to an extent sufficient to disengage thetongues 26 and27 when theclosure member 23 is within about ten orfifteen degrees from its closed position shown in FIG; 1. Suitablelatches 30 and 31, which are manipulatable from. the exterior, areprovided on closure member 23 at the side thereof opposite tongues 26and 27, for engagement with the channels 13 and 14 to hold the member 23in the closed position shown in FIG. 1.

The ballast 6 customarily employed in connection with of .vents shown inthe form of louvers 32, 33, 34, and 35, 2

located at opposite sides of the ballast 6, and the ballast compartmentis equipped with a cover plate 36 whose opposite edges 37 and 38 aredeformed to lie in spaced relationship with flanges l9 and 2 of therespective sidemembers 3 and 4. Hence, the spaces between deformed edges37 and 38, and the respective flanges I9 and 20, have staggered openingsfor ventilating the ballast compartment, so that ambient air enters theballast compartmentthrough louvers 32-35, circulates about the ballast,and is exhausted through the spaces adjacent edges 37 and 38 of thecover plate 36. Additionally, the cover plate 36 is equipped with aconductive heat dissipator 39, which is shown in the form of a metallic,open-top box having a bottom 40 in heatconductiverelationship with theballast, and four sidewalls extending from the bottom 40 to the level ofcover plate 36, so that the top side of bottom 40, as well as theseveral sidewalls of box 39, are exposed to ambient air on the exteriorof the ballast compartment. If desired, the sidewalls of box 39 mayextend above the level of cover plate 36 to increase the rate of heatdissipation.

in order tofacilitate the complete removal of the ballast from .theluminaire whenever necessary, the electrical connections between theballast and the several lamp receptacles are reconnection afterseparation. The circuitry between the male half of the separableconnector and the several lamp tube receptacles is shown in FIG. 10,where receptacles 71 and 72 serve lamp tube 7, and receptacles 81 and 82serve lamp tube 8. A pair of conductors 73 extend from lamp receptacle71 to the male half 41 of such a separable connector, and terminate,respectively, at poles 731 and 732, which are diagonally related in theconnector half 41. Likewise, a pair of conductors 74 extend from lampreceptacle 72, and terminate, respectively, at poles 741 and 742 ofconductor half 41, such poles being related in quadrature to each other.Similarly, from lamp receptacle 8], a pair of conductors 83 extend topoles 831 and 832 of the connector half 41, said poles being in diagonalrelationship with each other. Likewise, a pair of conductors 84 extendfrom lamp receptacle 82 to poles 841 and 842 of the connector half 41,said poles being in quadrature to each other.

The intermediate portions of conductors 83 and 73, as well as two ormore service mains 50 and l, are accommodated within, and concealed by,trough 9.

As shown in FlGS. 3 and 11, the ballast 6 has a plurality of conductorswhich extend to the female half 42 of the separable connector, andth'e'respective conductors areconnected to poles of the female half 42which correspond in polar orientation to the proper poles of malehalf4l. Among these is a primary conductor 53 which extends from theballast 6 to poles 532 and 631 of the female half 42 of the separableconnector; and a primary conductor 63 extends from the ballast to poles632 and 531 of the female connector half; a pair of secondary conductors54, which extend, respectively, to poles 542 and 641 of the femaleconnector half; and a pair of secondary conductors 64, which extend fromthe ballast to poles 642 and 541 of the female connector half. Thus, therelationship shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is such that if one or the otherof the connector halves 41 and 42 be turned upside-down to mate with theother, the several poles will be connected as follows: 531 to 731, 532to 732,541 to 741, 542 to 742, 631 to 831, 632 to 832, 641 to84l, and642 to 842. In order to assure the proper mating of the male and femalepoles of the respective conductor halves, the casings of the respectiveconductor halves may have a corresponding side of each serrated, orotherwise configurated to match only whenthe two connector halves are.in the single correct relationship of. orientation. If desired, theservice mains 50 and 51 may also be connected through aseparable-connector which may be the same or a different one from thatwhich connects the ballast leads to the several lamp receptacles; or theconnection between the service lines to the ballast and the servicemains may be made by wire nuts, or in any other acceptable fashion.

As many ballasts of commerce are heavier at one end than at the other,such will tend to tilt a suspended luminaire, but the imbalance may berectified by applying a counterweight, such as one or more plies ofheavy gauge sheet metal, 43 along one of the side members within theballast compartment, and atthe side opposite the heavier end of theballast.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art should readilyunderstand that the invention accomplishes its objectives, and providesa luminaire for fluorescent lamp tubes in which the ballast is, duringnormal operation, concealed from view, but is readily accessible andreplaceable without dismounting the luminaire. In spite of theconcealment of the ballast, the luminaire provides for the dissipationof heat therefrom, both by convection and by conduction. Moreover, theluminaire is constructed to provide for dissipation of heat from thelamp tubes by convection currents rising upwardly from the several lamptubes through elongates apertures whose width can be varied to regulatetheramount of uplight emanating from the luminaire in a directionopposite its own aperture. V

The provision of readily removable and substitutable reflector elementsadjacent each sidewall of the luminaire, as well as a readilyremovable-reflector having V-related surfaces addressed toward lamptubes on either side thereof, not only increases the versatility of theluminaire, but also provides a wireway for the concealment of ballastconductors which, of necessity, must extend from the ballast compartmentto the most remote lamp receptacles, and may, if desired, alsoaccommodate and conceal source conductors or mains which serve one ormore such luminaires.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed indetail, it is not intended that the appended claims be limited to thedetails of that embodiment.

lclaim:

1. A luminaire for lamp tubes having an elongated troughlike casing foraccommodating said tubes and a comnecting at least one of said endmembers parallel with and spaced from the upper margins of said sidemembers, a partition extending between said side members substantiallyparallel with said end members and forming to either side saidcompartment for holding a ballast and a stall for accommodating aplurality of said lamp tubes, a plurality of pairs of lamp receptacles,the receptacles of each pair being mounted respectively one on saidpartition and on an end member, each receptacle being disposed to accepta lamp tube within said stall, and the receptacles of a given pair beinglocated adjacent the space between said sill and the upper margin ofsaid side member, a reflector depending from said sill between pairs oflamp receptacles and having V-related opposite reflecting exteriorsurfaces addressed respectively towards different pairs of lamp holders,said reflectors diverging towards said sill and having a hollow interiordefining a wireway, a series of electrical wires engaging said lampreceptacles and being disposed through said wireway for disposition intosaid compartment, the conductors leading from said wireway terminatingin a multipole plug-in connector half located in said compartment, andelectrical conductors leading from said ballast being terminated in amultipole plug-in connector half also located in said compartment, saidmultipole plug-in connector halves being configurated to be intermatedin only one relative orientation, a closure for said compartment, andsaid ballast being provided through said partition, said hingedconnection commounted upon said closure, said closure having a hingedconnection with said compartment, and quick release means for freeingsaid hinge connection, there being a series of apertures prising a pairoftongues integral with said closure member and being bent to providefor their insertion through said partition apertures and allowing forlimited retained pivotal movement of said closure with respect to saidpartition, a spring member engaging with said closure and normallybiased against the opposite side of said partition through which thetongues insert to thereby maintain said closure in snug retention tosaid partition, and said ballast and closure capable of being removedfrom the compartment through the movement of said tongues out ofsaidapertures against the bias of said spring member.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said ballast mounts upon saidclosure and is normally disposed upwardly within said compartment, saidcompartment having an upper wall thereof provided with an aperturetherethrough, heat dissipating means mounted to said upper wall thereofand being exposed to the exterior of the luminaire casing through saidwall aperture, and said ballast being disposed in contiguity andheat-conductive contact with said heat dissipating means when saidclosure is latched closed within the compartment.

1. A luminaire for lamp tubes having an elongated troughlike casing foraccommodating said tubes and a compartment formed at one end thereof forhousing a ballast, said troughlike member having end members, and a sillinterconnecting at least one of said end members parallel with andspaced from the upper margins of said side members, a partitionextending between said side members substantially parallel with said endmembers and forming to either side said compartment for holding aballast and a stall for accommodating a plurality of said lamp tubes, aplurality of pairs of lamp receptacles, the receptacles of each pairbeing mounted respectively one on said partition and on an end member,each receptacle being disposed to accept a lamp tube within said stall,and the receptacles of a given pair being located adjacent the spacebetween said sill and the upper margin of said side member, a reflectordepending from said sill between pairs of lamp receptacles and havingV-related opposite reflecting exterior surfaces addressed respectivelytowards different pairs of lamp holders, said reflectors divergingtowards said sill and having a hollow interior defining a wireway, aseries of electrical wires engaging said lamp receptacles and beingdisposed through said wireway for disposition into said compartment, theconductors leading from said wireway terminating in a multipole plug-inconnector half located in said compartment, and electrical conductorsleading from said ballast being terminated in a multipole plug-inconnector half also located in said compartment, said multipole plug-inconnector halves being configurated to be intermated in only onerelative orientation, a closure for said compartment, and said ballastbeing mounted upon said closure, said closure having a hinged connectionwith said compartment, and quick release means for freeing said hingeconnection, there being a series of apertures provided through saidpartition, said hinged connection comprising a pair of tongues integralwith said closure member and being bent to provide for their insertionthrough said partition apertures and allowing for limited retainedpivotAl movement of said closure with respect to said partition, aspring member engaging with said closure and normally biased against theopposite side of said partition through which the tongues insert tothereby maintain said closure in snug retention to said partition, andsaid ballast and closure capable of being removed from the compartmentthrough the movement of said tongues out of said apertures against thebias of said spring member.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidballast mounts upon said closure and is normally disposed upwardlywithin said compartment, said compartment having an upper wall thereofprovided with an aperture therethrough, heat dissipating means mountedto said upper wall thereof and being exposed to the exterior of theluminaire casing through said wall aperture, and said ballast beingdisposed in contiguity and heat-conductive contact with said heatdissipating means when said closure is latched closed within thecompartment.